Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN P. HUGHES, OF SPOUT SPRING, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,740, dated July 12,1859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN P. HUGHES, of Spout Spring, county ofAppomattox, in the State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in VVater-VVheels; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is alfull and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in theconstruction of water-wheels, as uwill be hereinafter fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation, referring by letterto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this invention, and inwhich- Figure l represents a top View of my improved construction ofwheel and its attachments. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section throughthe center of the same at line a: 0c, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a topView of one of the water-arms, and Fig. 3 represents a detailperspective and sectional view of one of the water-arms, illustratingfully the method of coupling together its sections.

Similar letters denote the same parts in the different views.

A represents the vertical water-box through which the head of waterdescends to the horizontal water-box B, from which it passes into thearms of the wheel, as will be hereinafter explained.

F is the wheel-shaft, which is arranged in a Vertical position andsupported by suitable bearings at top and bottom, as follows: At theupper end of shaft F is inserted a journal f, which runs in a suitablebearing formedin the cross-bar E, and is retained vertically by a cap a.In the lower end of said shaft F is a journal g, which rests in a stepformed at r in the bed of the waterbox B. The crossbeam E is supportedat .one end by the vertical boX A and at the other by a standard D. Thewheel-shaft F is made hollow at its lower end, as seen at k, Fig. 2, andat that point constitutes literallya part of the wheel. Around the lowerend of said wheel-shaft (when it is made of wood) is secured a metallicband or ferrule o, (see Fig. 2,) which constitutes the main lowerjournal of the said shaft and runs in abearing formed in the upper floorof the water-space B, and is surrounded by an india-rubber packing l.(See Fig, 2.)

G are the water-arms, which are arranged radially around the lower (andhollow) portion of the shaft F, as seen at Figs. 1 and 2, and are bracedby bottom connecting-strips c and upper stay-rods b. These arms G arehollow and of a peculiar formation, which I will presently describe. Theshaft F is represented at Figs. l and 2 as being wholly of wood with ametallic band o to form its lower journal-surface, and the arms G areillustrated as made of wood but I propose as a more perfect and durablemethod of construction in working-machines to make the lower hollowportion of the shaft F of metal with vertical iianges s to receive andbe secured to the lower end of the wooden and solid portion of theshaft, and also with short projecting sections G or portions of thearms, to which may be secured the sections G G2 of said arms. Thewater-arms may be more or less in number than is shown, as may be deemedexpedient, and may be made either of metal or wood, but should be madein sections, one fitting within the other and in such manner as to beperfectly secured to each other by bolts, as seen at n, Fig. 3, or inany other desirable manner. The water-arms are hollow and communicatewith the hollow portion 7c of the shaft F.

The peculiar internal formation of the hollow arms G is bestcomprehended from the drawings, where it will be seen by verticalsection at Fig. 2 that the cavity in said water is of an equal capacitythroughout its extentin one direction-that is, from top to bottom-aud itwill be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that said cavity is of about thesame capacity from the shaft end to near the extremity, where its formchanges, the rear side of the hollow keeping along in a right line tothe points', and from there running off at an angle little more thanright (or ninety degrees) to the mouth of the opening, while the forwardside of the hollow commences at the pointe to curve, and runs in acircular direction toward u to Z, leaving a mouth about equal incapacity to the straight or rectangular portion of the cavity. The lowerend of the shaft F, as before mentioned, is surrounded by anindia-rubber packing. This packing, forming the bearing of the saidshaft, is held between two boxes o3, which are firmly held in positionin the upper Hoor of the water-box B by a wedge or key w. By thisarrangement it will be seen the lower bearing can be opened very readilyfor repair or adjustment. l

One great advantage in the combination of the hollow shaft with thewater-box B, as shown, is that the force of the water is continuallyexerted (when the wheel is running) to lift the wheel or support,whereby its bearing is much relieved, in consequence o1 which theapparatus is rendered exceedingly durable. The journal g, thoughintended to support the weight of the wheel, has very little labor whenthe wheel is running, as is evident from the fact that it is necessaryto place acap over the upper journalf to prevent its rising through itsbearing. Those edges or sides of the water-arms which cut the air arefeathered or chamfered oft' during their Whole length, as seen at m inthe drawings. A(See Fig. 5.)

By making the arms in sections the capacity of the Wheel may be readilyVaried to adapt it to different circumstances by simply extracting oradding a section, as the case may require, while at the same timethewhole apparatus may be more readily made, transported, and put togetherand taken apart. By enlarging the cavity in the water-arms near theirextremities, as shown and described, the water is allowed to i'ill up inthe angles', (see Fig. 4,) where a portion of it remains at rest, Whilethrough and past it the driving-current passes, modeling its own courseof direction according to the size of the wheel and the head employed,as the latter is nearly always varying, and there is only one mosteconomical and effective line of discharge with a given head, the greatadvantage of so form ing the hollow arin as that the water will lill inand form its own direction is obvious.

Having described the construction and operation of my improvedWater-wheel, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

Making the water-arm e in sections, essentially as described, for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of March,1859.

JNO. P. HUGHES. Witnesses:

WM. A. THOMPSON, O. W. HUNTER.

